Tokyo Sexwale weighing up run for Fifa presidency

FIFA official Tokyo Sexwale says he is weighing up his options before deicind whether to stand for the presidency of football’s governing body.

The South African businessman and FIFA anti-discrimination task force member says he has received backing from some football officials to succeed Sepp Blatter.

Sexwale tells reporters “I am just applying my mind and I will make it up in due course.”

He says “the question does not arise at this stage of what my final decision will be in October.”

FIFA set an October 26 deadline for contenders to be nominated. The election is set for February 26, 2016.

Uefa president Michel Platini and South Korean football official Chung Mong-joon have both confirmed they will stand for election.

Sexwale was speaking during a FIFA conference call about heading a panel to improve Israeli-Palestinian football relations. A new monitoring committee under the chairmanship of the South African was set up at the FIFA congress in May

“I’m feeling confident after seeing the team spirit today, as both associations have confirmed their intention to promote dialogue,” said the veteran South African human rights activist.

“As we have witnessed in my home country South Africa, I’m convinced that here too we’ll bring people together through the power of sport.”

Free Newsletter

Sign up to our free newsletter to get the latest updates from WorldSoccer.

Please keep me up to date with special offers and news from World Soccer and other brands within the Time Inc. UK Group by email. You can unsubscribe at any time.

We'd also like to send you special offers and news just by email from other carefully selected companies we think you might like. Your personal details will not be shared with those companies - we send the emails and you can unsubscribe at any time. Please tick here if you are happy to receive these messages.